Thanks to the northerly winds overnight Ian Cannell, Bill Smith, Peter McParland and I spent a busy day birding Ward’s and Algonquin Island finding several first of the season birds. Below are a some of the birds we did find among the 68 species including 8 flycatcher species (including Trails), 4 vireo species and 20 warbler species.
Cooper’s Hawk, migrating Kestrels, Peregrine Falcon, Belted Kingfishers, Olive-sided Flycatcher, E. Wood-Pewees, Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Great Crested Flycatchers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Wrens, Swainson’s Thrushes, Blue-headed Vireo, 14 Philadelphia Vireos (great looks, many Red-eyed Vireos, Blackburnian, Cape May, Pine, Palm, Bay-breasted and Blackpoll Warblers, many Magnolia Warblers and A. Redstarts, N. Waterthrush, 8 Wilson’s and 5 Canada Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. And 2 or 3 Budgies ( a flock) on Algonquin, a first for all of on The Islands. Must have been blown in from Miami by hurricane Isaac :>)). We were wishing that they would fly so we could claim a kettle of Budgies. A good day with good company. Though the four of us won’t be birding in the Toronto area tomorrow it would have been a good bet that we would have gone birding on The Islands as tonight again forecasts northerly winds. We will take advantage of these winds elsewhere. If you can get away, try The Islands tomorrow. NOTE :- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/torontoislands.php and don’t forget the OFO Toronto Islands trip this Saturday at 7:30 am to be led by Jay Peterson. Another Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 TORONTO ISLANDS - SUMMER SCHEDULE DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus or streetcar. When running there is a street car (#509 Harbourfront) that goes from inside the TTC’s Union Subway Station to Queen’s Quay (no transfer required). For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are lots of parking lots nearby (fee). These parking lots are located just a block north of the ferry docks with more a block or so west of the ferry docks. Norm Murr 303-48 Laverock Ave. Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C 4J5 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
